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The English word “pearl” is derived from the French “perle,” and it is originally from the Latin Perna ‘leg,’ after the ham-shaped or mutton leg-shaped bivalve. A pearl is a hard and glistering object made via the soft tissues of living shell mollusk or other animals, like fossil conulariids. Similar to the shell of mollusks, the pearls are composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers. There are many varieties of pearls, like the baroque pearls, but the ideal pearls are perfectly round in shape and they are incredibly smooth. Because pearls are a highly valued gem and an object of beauty, they are the perfect metaphor for something rare, delicate, and valuable. The most valuable pearls are the ones that are formed spontaneously in the wild. And these are extremely rare to find.
These wild pearls are called natural pearls. The majority of pearls that are sold from the market are cultured or farmed pearls. They are made through pearl oysters and freshwater mussels. Imitation pearls are also sold in the market as inexpensive jewelry. Pearls have also been used to make clothing more beautiful, but they are primarily used only in jewelry. They have also been used in paint formulations, cosmetics, and medicines. It does not matter whether we are talking about wild or cultured pearls; all gem-quality pearls are always iridescent and nacreous, like the interior of the shell in which they are made. Almost all species of shelled mollusks can produce pearls of lesser shine or lesser spherical shape. This happens when an irritating microscopic object is trapped within the mantle folds of mollusks.
And this is the reason why a great majority of these pearls are not valued as gemstones. Nacreous pearls are produced by two groups of molluskan bivalves or clams. These pearls are the most commercially significant. Natural or wild pearls that are formed without human interaction are scarce. You must gather and open hundreds of pearl oysters to find one wild pearl. For many centuries, this had been the only way through which pearls could be obtained, which was why pearls fetched such an extraordinary price in the past. Pearls can grow in both seawater and freshwater.
If we see the history books, we will find that in 2206 BC, a Chinese historian wrote about pearls for the first time. As times progressed, the desire for natural pearls was yet strong. Only in 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultures a pearl in Japan, was the ever-insatiable desire for pearls put into balance.
When you shop for pearls, you will come across the term ‘wild’ (or natural) and ‘cultured.’ In order for you to understand the difference, first understand this – all pearls are a result of disease, damage, or irritant, such as sand or dust. These particles interrupt the soft mollusk tissues. This is called ’pearl nucleation.’ The mollusk’s natural defenses against pearl nucleation are to cover the irritant with mantle cells which secrete nacre, and this is what produces pearls. These layers of nacre consist of organic material and aragonite. With time layers of nacre build up and interact with light, resulting in the unique lustre of pearls.
So how is it tied to differentiating between natural and cultured pearls? When it comes to natural pearls vs. cultured pearls, the key difference lies in how pearl nucleation occurs. With cultured pearls, nucleation is artificially induced, whereas in natural or wild pearls, nucleation occurs randomly. It would be interesting to know that Gastropods such as marine snails, abalone, and giant conches also produce pearls. There are different types of pearls. Some of the notable ones are as follows. Conch pearls are the rarest of all organic gemstones, characterized by their pink color and distinct flame-like pattern on their surface.
Abalone pearls are well known for their bright iridescent colours and abstract forms. Naturally formed abalone pearls are incredibly hard to find. However, they can be cultured. They are also known as paua shells. Melo pearls are formed via sea snails and are known for their flame-like textures and vibrant orange color. Although non-nacreous pearls are a lesser-known variety, they are some of the most oversized pearls ever discovered. They are entirely calcite and are formed in gastropods. Lastly, apart from round shapes, pearls are also found in the shapes of oval, button, teardrop (or pear shape, categorized as drop), and baroque.
Pearl is said to have a variety of healing properties. This gem promotes protection, inner confidence, and serenity. It is also noted that pearls balance the aura and ground you. If you wear this gemstone, you will remain centered, even in chaos. It is said to heal the digestive and muscular systems while promoting fertility and easy childbirth. It also benefits people suffering from lung diseases. The easiest way to get these benefits is by wearing a pearl earring, pearl necklace, or pearl pendant. If you have a pearl that still needs to be set into jewelry, keep it in your pocket, purse, or handbag after placing it in a small silk bag.
Rananjay Exports is a wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturer and supplier based in India, successfully serving the industry since 2013. Shopping with us has always been an easy job. Not only do you get wholesale pearl jewelry like pearl earrings, pearl necklaces, pearl ring, and pearl bracelets, but you also get jewelry in a wide variety of other gemstones as well, like opal, amethyst, agate, jade, jasper, moonstone etc. We have a vast collection of jewelry in 100+ different gemstones.
We also provide jewelry based on your custom designs, and rest assured; we will never disclose your design to any of our other clients. All of our jewelry is manufactured and supplied at wholesale prices. We are not into the retail supply of gemstones and jewelry. If you like our designs and you wish to purchase from us, then you have to register with us giving your business details. If you have any concerns, mail us at info@rananjayexports.com or call/text us at (+91) 9116124275.